Suresh Raina - Domestic cricket is a learning ground

1st Aug, 2022

India player and UP captain reflects on his journey

I have learnt a lot from domestic cricket since the time I was very young. When I first played, I played a lot with international stars like, (Mohammad) Kaif bhai, Gyanendra Pandey, Rizwan Shamshad and Nikhil Chopra, who was also playing at the time. We had come from playing for India U-19. When you play domestic cricket you learn little things from senior players that help you.

Sometimes it is tough, but you learn. It reflects in your character. You have to keep up the intensity while you learn a lot of things along the way. Cricket is the one thing that is always on the mind whether the conditions are hot or cold or regardless of what else is going on. You enjoy it; it is your passion. It is in your thoughts even when you sleep; it is in your heart whether you are playing for India, UP or in the IPL or India ‘A’. I think it comes from within.

When you travel to various parts of the country you come across different things. There are different pitches and different challenges. You have to think and practice differently for each of them. A lot of different things start happening, but now everyone is a professional. With so much cricket being played all around, you too have to change your approach and thought process. For that half-an-hour in the night you think about the opposition’s bowling attack, what the pitch is like and how you will be preparing yourself. When you plan and get up in the morning it automatically works in your sub-conscious mind. Some are able to do it some are not. Some do it after coming to the ground, some do their thinking in their rooms and or some come for the match and then do it. It is a matter of mental strength for the player how he does it; whether he does it while talking to his wife, or discusses with a friend or while eating. Everyone will have their own way of doing it and preparing themselves.

There is a lot of cricket that one has to manage outside as well before entering the field. Playing domestic matches is a challenge in itself wherein there are adjustments to make. But when you are ready to go and want to play you can do it. When you are working on something and planning for something it works out, it comes naturally to me. Now everyone is a professional, a few days of practice and everyone is ready to shift gears as required. It is challenging but you have to go out there and play otherwise you will get caught in the trap of thinking.

You need to respect your team-mates, the game, as well as well as the umpires and everyone and everything around it. I have learnt all of that from playing in the Ranji Trophy. Now things have become even better. As a captain I just had one meeting with the umpires after so many years and things are different. There is difference in other things as well, cameras are put in place everywhere by BCCI and that is very good. Everything is going to the officials, they are watching everything. It’s very important to have a look into everything. It’s good to see that BCCI is placing so much importance on domestic cricket.

The BCCI is also looking into like ball tampering and dissent shown to the umpire. When you are saying ‘no’ there is nobody there to cheer you up, you have to just pick yourself up. And when you are the captain of the side you lift others up as well (when things are not in your favour). It comes naturally to me and I always enjoyed that.

I have learnt the good things, the respect from my seniors, and my dad. He always told me that one should respect their seniors no matter what. Even if they are abusing you or telling you something you don’t like, it will be good to just listen and never ever say anything back to them. The family culture has always been like that. I learnt the same in hostel as well. If anyone says anything to me it’s not good to talk back. I will listen. Sometimes it’s better to listen to some things no matter what. If it is good you can take it in, if it’s bad leave it.

There are many things that you miss at the international level that you did while playing domestic cricket. Now I am learning good things from all the youngsters. Everything feels good for someone who has earned it from doing the hard yards at the grass root level. Playing at the domestic level is pretty tough, but hard work pays you off. There are many things in domestic cricket that are good for you and help you grow. You get to play with international stars. Then there are people like Reetinder Sodhi here, who are around. He is the third umpire for the match between Mumbai and UP. There is Mritunjay Tripathi, who is our coach and some others who are U-19 World Cup champions with me and you get to interact with people like them.

You then get to see people from opposition teams sitting and having a good laugh and chatting during non-match days, off the field. At the Wankhede here, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla are sitting together. That is a good and fun environment to be in. It always lightens things up. The same people who were sitting together are having a good time all of a sudden become fierce and competitive, looking very sharp on the field.

Suresh Raina First Class records

First-Class Career Batting and Fielding	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
	87	143	9	5796	204*	43.25	13	37	61.16	95
First-Class Career Bowling	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
	2911	81	1448	36	31-Mar	40.22	0	0	80.86	2.98

Suresh Raina Under 19 records

U19 Test Career Batting and Fielding	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
	3	4	0	179	72	44.75	0	2	51.58	1
U19 Test Career Bowling	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
	132	6	87	1	31-1	87	0	0	132	3.95
U19 ODI Career Batting and Fielding	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
	14	13	0	328	90	25.23	0	3	80	11
U19 ODI Career Bowling	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	4wI	5wI	SRate	Econ
	540	7	330	7	23-2	47.14	0	0	77.14	3.66

Suresh Raina - Domestic cricket is a learning ground

Suresh Raina - Domestic cricket is a learning ground

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